require specialised instrumentation.
This fully funded industry-sponsored PhD offers an exciting opportunity to develop a new generation of technologies for rapid mechanical biomarker discovery and biomedical diagnostics.
The project builds upon an award-winning collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Soapworks Ltd through an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), which was rated Outstanding and led to the development of a patented technology capable of reconstructing the complete linear viscoelastic properties of soft materials from a single, rapid indentation experiment.
The successful candidate will further develop this breakthrough methodology and translate it into a powerful platform for biomedical applications. Working at the interface of engineering, physics and medicine, the PhD will investigate how the mechanical properties of biological tissues, biomaterials and other soft biological systems can be used to identify novel mechanical biomarkers associated with health and disease. The project will combine experimental biomechanics, rheology, mechanobiology, instrumentation development and advanced data analysis to create new tools capable of delivering clinically meaningful information from small tissue samples.
The student will design and optimise experimental protocols, validate the methodology against established mechanical characterisation techniques, and investigate its performance across a range of biologically relevant systems. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying changes in viscoelastic behaviour associated with disease progression, ageing and tissue remodelling, with the ultimate goal of enabling rapid, reliable and accessible biomechanical diagnostics.
The research will be carried out within the Division of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Glasgow's Advanced Research Centre, a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment with internationally recognised expertise in rheology, soft matter, biomedical engineering and mechanobiology. The supervisory team combines expertise in biomechanics, rheology, instrumentation and disease biology, providing an exceptional training environment for a highly motivated doctoral researcher.
The project also benefits from strong industrial engagement through Soapworks Ltd and the Daabon Group, providing exposure to technology translation, intellectual property development and commercialisation. In addition, the student will have opportunities to interact with an international network of collaborators spanning academia, industry and clinical research in the UK, Europe, Colombia and the United States.
This is a highly interdisciplinary project that will equip the successful candidate with expertise in experimental biomedical engineering, rheology, soft matter physics, instrumentation, data analysis and translational research. The work is expected to generate high-impact publications, new intellectual property and significant opportunities for industrial and clinical translation. We are seeking an enthusiastic and ambitious candidate who enjoys tackling challenging experimental problems and wishes to contribute to the development of technologies capable of transforming future biomedical diagnostics.
Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) a First Class or strong Upper Second Class degree (or international equivalent) in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics or a closely related discipline. A Master's degree and prior experience in biomechanics, rheology, biomedical instrumentation or experimental soft matter are advantageous but not essential.
Funding Notes
Fully funded industry-sponsored PhD studentship supported by Soapworks Ltd and the Daabon Group. Funding is available to cover tuition fees for UK applicants for 3.5 years, as well as paying a stipend at the Research Council rate (£21,805 for Session 2067/27). Outstanding international applicants may also be considered, subject to School approval.
